Pa. High Court Rejects Foxwoods License Appeal

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court appears to have dealt the final blow to efforts by Foxwoods’ investors to hold on to their Philadelphia casino license.

Frustrated by delays, the Gaming Control Board revoked Foxwoods license in December 2010. Last year, Commonwealth Court upheld the license revocation and now the state Supreme Court has denied a petition by Foxwoods investors to hear an appeal of that ruling.

But it is not clear whether the city of Philadelphia will ever have a second casino.

At legislative budget hearings earlier this year, the chairman of the gaming board said that if the state high court rejected the appeal, the board would move forward with awarding a new license but probably not right away, because state lawmakers are considering legislation that would open up the license to statewide competition.

And the chairman issued a statement Friday evening saying that while current law designates the license for Philadelphia, it would be “prudent and responsible” for the board to allow a bit more time to allow the legislative process to unfold before starting a new license proceeding.